Sunday, 19 April 2009

Salò

Salò or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975) Directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini

Banned for many years due to its controversial dealings with sadomasochistic behaviour, Salo is more disturbing than erotic, but I was nonetheless really taken with the art deco style, the interiors, the colours and the way in which Pasolini chose to shoot the film.

The interiors and the castle- like building that holds all these illicit going ons represent not only an interesting backdrops but more importantly they help add weight to the plot for me. One example is the major ballroom lounge where all the meetings/stories are conducted. In a scene towards the end of the film as the plot heightens we see the female piano player stride across this once heavily populated room and its current barren state add a foreboding element.